Recap: Vancouver trounce Sporting KC 3-0 in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Vancouver Whitecaps continued mowing down the competition at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic as they registered yet another convincing victory on Wednesday night by beating Sporting KC 3-0 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The Canadian side, led by an inspired and hard-working Davide Chiumiento, blitzed Sporting KC for three goals inside the first 20 minutes of the second half. It was their third straight shutout victory in the Disney tournament to finish atop Group 1, and they will now face the winner of Group 2 on Saturday night for the title.

Chiumiento lofted a teasing ball inside the six-yard box in the 50th minute and Frenchman Sébastien Le Toux came crashing in to knock the ball home for the opening goal.

The Whitecaps doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when the enterprising Long Tan worked the ball at the top of the box and fed second-half substitute Russell Teibert, who fired a left-footed shot past SKC goalkeeper Jon Kempin.

But Chiumiento wasn’t done. Four minutes later, he lofted another tasty ball from the left side to the near post. Left back Jordan Harvey, who was in an advanced position, received the ball, spun and sent a low cross that centerback Carlyle Mitchell pounced on for the 3-0 advantage.

Sporting Kansas City threatened on long distance efforts but their best look on a frustrating night came five minutes from time when captain Kei Kamara saw his deflection of a corner kick blocked off the goal line by Vancouver’s Lee Nguyen.

The first half was evenly played with very few opportunities on goal as both sides neutralized the other when unforced turnovers didn’t take care of stunting their respective attacks.

Vancouver came closest to opening the score in the 16th minute when a Chiumiento free kick from the left side took a few deflections before slamming off the crossbar and bouncing in front of the goal line.